Bob Purvey introduced The Ugly at the 1966 Morey-Pope Professional Invitational. He won the noseriding division, and the following year, the board manufacturer started an ad campaign crediting Bob for his achievements.
The Ugly’s design is remarkable because countless contest surfers have proved it to enable long noserides, which is a highly desirable maneuver. It is also considered the quintessential maneuver in the repertoire of longboard surfing and one of the highest point-getters given by contest judges.
Get more details at Legend of The Ugly.
The Ugly’s shape is most notable because of the wide blunt nose, which serves as a stable platform to stand on while noseriding. It also provides an enormous amount of lift that helps The Ugly to appear to defy gravity through sections in waves. The nose shape was odd in 1966, which is why the noserider got its name, The Ugly.
The Ugly is famously known as “The Ultimate Noserider.” It was publicized in Longboard Magazine as such because its design has withstood the test of time.
